Thursday, January 25, 2007

It's funny how kids remember the little things--here are thirteen small things that can build family unity along with some fun memories, the second half of Creative Family Activities:

1. Play wallyball--that's volleyball in a racquetball court where the ball's always in play whether it hits the ceiling or the walls. A very fun game. Or go bowling, ice skating, sledding, swimming biking, hiking or rollerblading together.

3. Have a movie night. Make popcorn and customized movie tickets then show family slides or home movies with the lights out.

4. Have a music appreciation night by playing Name That Tune, listening to different kinds of music or holding a family recital or talent show.

5. Play a board game or card game. President and Scum is a favorite around here. Haven't heard of that one? Oh, I'll have to write up the rules, it's terrific. Play physical games. Capture the flag, London Bridge, Hide and Seek, Sardines, even a Rocks Paper Scissors tournament can be fun.

6. Get a telescope (or even a good pair of binoculars) and do some star gazing. Check out SpaceWeather.com for information on astronomical occurrences or this page at Virginia Tech's astronomy lab that has all-around interesting links.

7. Do a good deed. Shovel someone's driveway, take cookies to the widow down the street, write a letter to grandparents, clean up a park, rake someone's yard.

8. Have a lesson on etiquette. This could be more specific, such as answering the phone properly, table manners or dating etiquette.

9. Visit Mom or Dad's workplace for a look at what they do. For older children, have a practice job interview. If you have teens trying to find a job, help them put together a resume and give them sample interview questions.

11. Play This Is Your Life. Highlight events from an ancestor or older relative's life and get to know them a little better. They don't have to be present for it to be fun. Alternately, have a birthday party for a ancestor, focusing the activities around their life.

12. Create a Family Flag or Family Cheer. It's corny but the little kids love it. We have a Family Cheer that is as dumb as it gets but it's become a long running joke/tradition that never dies. I'll have to video tape it sometime . . .

13. Build a fort or have an indoor camp out. Set up the tent in the living room and roast hot dogs in the fireplace or over the gas stove.

If you don't have enough people for any of these activities, invite another family--friends or relatives--to join.

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comments:

Great ideas. Both of my kids participated in "Bring Your Son or Daughter to Work Day" and enjoyed it. At Xmas, we played Scattergories and cracked each other up! Of course, the "kids" in our family are now 23, almost 20, 17, and 15, so movie nights are out . . . they won't all watch the stuff us old folks like. And vice versa, for the most part. :-)

we love movie night - every friday! another favorite is going to the farmers market early saturday morning. the kids see all the new kinds of food and try samples. they're little, so we do lots of naming colors and shapes and stuff. they love it!

These are awesome ideas! I would like to add that families should feel free to invite collegues and others who do not have children to a family activity night. We find that hosting game night gives us a chance to see our friends who otherwise coldn't hire a sitter. And we really enjoy interacting with their kids.

Yes! These are such great ideas. Back on the farm, my parents did the most mundane activities with me--bike riding, taking a little hike, building a fort out of twigs in the yard. It was easy, simple, and GREAT. Those are my best memories.

Oh, some of those bring back memories! I remember teaching my kids to play "sardines", and they thought that was the greatest game ever. My daughter's passed it on to kids she babysits whenever there's a big enough group, and it's always a hit.

Michelle once again your TT has succeeded in making me want to come live at your house! You rock! What lucky kids to grow up in such an environment! Seriously - huge huge cheers. :) Take care and have a great evening.

Great great, creative ideas! The monkey made a flag with my parents and loved it. She pointed to it every morning after for a month, yelling "FALAH! FALAH!"! (It's on the top of her shelf in her bedroom)

That's a terrific list and I loved the write up about your family on your "about" page. How do you ever find the time to write so much and so well? I'd think with four kids you'd never have a spare moment to write.

I love the lesson on etiquette! So many young people do not practice good etiquette today, especially manners! I just cannot get used to kids calling their Mom and Dad by their given names, or speaking to an adult without using Mr. or Mrs,or Miss, not just their given name.